Living Resurrection Life: The renewed mind and its importance to experiencing resurrection life (Part 1)

Ephesians 4:17-32

“In the Lord’s name, I tell you this. Do not continue living like those who do not believe. Their thoughts are worth nothing. They do not understand, and they know nothing, because they refuse to listen. So, they cannot have the life that God gives. They have lost all feeling of shame, and they use their lives for ungodliness - doing evil. They continually want to do all kinds of ungodliness - evil. But what you learned in Jesus Christ was not like this. I know that you heard about Him, and you are in Him, so you were taught the truth that is in Jesus Christ. You were taught to leave your old self - to stop living the ungodly - evil way you lived before. That old self becomes worse, because people are fooled by the ungodly - evil things they want to do. But you were taught to be made new in your heart (your thoughts, actions, emotions, reactions and desires), to become a new person. That new person is made to be like God - made to be truly good and holy. So, you must stop telling lies. Tell each other the truth, because we all belong to each other in the same body. When you are angry, do not sin, and be sure to stop being angry before the end of the day. Do not give the devil a way to defeat you. Those who are stealing must stop stealing and start working. They should earn an honest living for themselves. Then they will have something to share with those who are poor. When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need - words that will help others become godly and stronger. Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you. And do not make the Holy Spirit sad. The Holy Spirit is God’s proof that you belong to Him. God gave you the Holy Spirit to show that God will make you free when the final day comes. Do not be bitter or angry or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt or disrespect others. Never do anything ungodly - evil. Be kind and loving to each other and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Jesus Christ.” (So, far the scripture.)

What does it mean to have our “mind renewed? When the mind is renewed, we’re able to “conform” to the truth of God’s Word - to obey God’s Word. When are minds are “transformed” (when our thinking changes) because our mind has been renewed, we will be able to see things the way God sees them.

Living Resurrection Life: How positional truth becomes our faith and practice (Part 2)

Positional truth is a spiritual fact; it’s who we are by virtue of what Jesus Christ has done for us. Experiencing the practical reality of positional truth is discovered in how we actually live; how the spiritual benefits of our position in Jesus Christ are lived out daily. One of the best ways to appropriate the truth of our position in Jesus Christ and live in that truth practically, is to remind ourselves every day of who we are in Jesus Christ. It’s the best way for us to start living in the experience of the spiritual wealth - the abundant spiritual supply God has given us in Jesus Christ.

Living Resurrection Life: How positional truth becomes our faith and practice

Positional truth is a spiritual fact; it’s who we are by virtue of what Jesus Christ has done for us. Experiencing the practical reality of positional truth is discovered in how we actually live; how the spiritual benefits of our position in Jesus Christ are lived out daily. One of the best ways to appropriate the truth of our position in Jesus Christ and live in that truth practically is to remind ourselves every day of who we are in Jesus Christ. It’s the best way for us to start living in the experience of the spiritual wealth - the abundant spiritual supply God has given us in Jesus Christ.
Since we have been raised with Jesus Christ, here’s the first character trait of a resurrected life: “Keep seeking the things above, where Jesus Christ is, seated at the right hand of God the Father. Living the resurrection life brings a new focus to our minds; instead of the world around us and our self-centeredness, we now keep seeking the things above. In “living resurrection life,” believers are called to an upward trajectory - to an upward path of transformation.
 
Being “In Jesus Christ” refers to the believer’s union with Him. It refers to our “new position” in the sphere of resurrected life. It is the way God sees us, because we are in Jesus Christ. Every believer needs to understand the difference between our position with God because of Jesus Christ, and the practice of our faith. The practice of our faith must cause us to experience the practical reality of our position with God because we are in Jesus Christ.